A hot air balloon floats over farm fields south of Washington, Ill., as the sun slips behind clouds on the autumn afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Peoria Journal Star, Ron Johnson)

(Newser)
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A romantic ride in a hot air balloon turned into a rescue operation, with lifeguards and surfers saving three people after the basket dipped into the ocean off a Southern California beach. A man was proposing to his girlfriend during their sunset ride yesterday when the balloon drifted off course and hovered over the water near Cardiff-by-the-Sea, KNSD-TV reported. A crowd of people watched as the balloon drifted toward the beach in northern San Diego County and skimmed the water.

Eric Barretto said he and his fiancee threw a rope to the water below and several surfers pulled the balloon back to shore. "It's unforgettable. That's all I can say," Barretto told the station. "I don't know if we'll do it again." The pilot stayed with the balloon and kept it inflated while it was tugged onto the beach. The balloon basket landed in the surf and took in several waves, said a local marine safety official. Nobody was injured.

voice in balloon to woman below "I need to get to the game, but I'm off course, where am I?" Woman below "you're in a balloon" "you must be a woman" "why yes, how did you know?" "I asked you for information, your answer doesn't help one bit, and now I'll miss the game" "you must be a man" "why yes I am, how can you tell?" "You're trying something that won't work, ask me a question that makes no difference, and somehow missing the game is now my fault."

BikeNEPA

Oct 6, 2014 12:25 PM CDT

Now that is a proposal they will never forget. Glad it worked out for them and no one got hurt.